Hamadeh and RNC Convene Urgent Session with Maricopa County Election Officials

By Matthew Holloway |

Arizona Congressional candidate Abe Hamadeh, in collaboration with the Republican National Committee (RNC), has officially reached out to Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer. They have called for an urgent meeting with county election officials to assess what they term a “flawed Election Plan.”

In a post on social media, Hamadeh criticized the plan, stating it does not adequately address the time required for voters to complete the four-page ballot. He expressed concern this oversight could result in long lines and chaos on Election Day, asserting that the electoral process must not disenfranchise citizens.

The three-page letter, co-signed by RNC attorney Harmeet Dhillon, articulates concerns about time estimates in the current election plan. According to their findings, voters may need substantially longer than the projected 12 minutes to complete their ballots. Observations suggest that the average time currently stands at approximately 15 minutes, with some taking even longer.

Further compounding the issue, the letter highlights a significant reduction in voting centers near Paradise Valley Community College, which has historically high voter turnout. The authors caution that this reduction could lead to unexpectedly long lines on Election Day, potentially discouraging many voters from casting their ballots.

An earlier report from AZ Free News indicated that the number of polling locations has decreased due to security concerns, including potential violence. In one case, a Phoenix-area school district saw its polling places shrink from 17 to just one, now housed in a fortified district office equipped with extensive security measures.

Adding to the election integrity debate, a study by the America First Policy Institute revealed discrepancies in ballot counting during the 2022 elections across several Arizona counties. It uncovered instances where more ballots were counted than registered voters and vice versa, with over 8,000 discrepancies noted. This scrutiny is particularly relevant, given Hamadeh’s defeat in the Attorney General race by a narrow margin of just 280 votes.

Yavapai County’s Registrar of Voters Office highlighted an additional concern that could exacerbate the issues in future elections. If a voter checks in but does not submit their ballot, they are still marked as having voted—resulting in a lack of a corresponding ballot for tabulation.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for the latest updates or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.